Breathe Magic Intensive Therapy programme - Case Studies

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Case Studies

The Innovation Case Studies section provides a comprehensive list of exemplar innovation projects from across the NHS. These innovations have been carefully selected to represent a range of ideas from medical technologies through to service and pathway re design. Each case study provides a background to the innovation and a contact for further information.

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Breathe Magic Intensive Therapy programme

Hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) affects approximately 1 in 1000 people but many of the traditional treatments fail to engage young people sufficiently.

Research shows at least 65% of people with hemiplegia could benefit from intensive motor therapy and, crucially, 44% suffer from psychological and social difficulties as a result of their condition.

Breathe Magic intensive therapy programme is aimed at children and young people 7-19 years of age. The programme brings together specialist occupational therapists and academics in the field of neuro-rehab together with magicians to deliver a fun and effective therapy programme.

Key Learning

High levels of engagement and retention have been achieved with children and young people through the programme compared with more traditional therapeutic interventions, and parents reporting better psychological wellbeing and requiring fewer hours of care and support

Participants on the programme have shown up to an 80% improvement in hand and arm function on completion, and clinically significant motor skills improvements maintained at 6 months,;

Next steps

Working to develop a pan London programme for 2016-17 onwards, and working with Yorkshire and Humber Academic and Health Science Network to extend and test the programme further in a rural location outside of London

Exploration of programme being extended to other groups, such as children and young people with mental health conditions;

Identification of an appropriate clinical lead / mentor to work with Breathe Arts on development and adoption of the programme to other sites over the next 2 years.

Breathe Arts is a social enterprise and has developed steadily with high levels patient and carer engagement in the development of the programmes offered, together having secured 3 year support from Lambeth CCG and also Wandsworth CCGs